Fever

During the winter break, neither of them sent a single message to each other. The only exception was on New Year's Eve, when they exchanged wishes at midnight. Pei Huan stared at the chat window, wanting to talk to Lu Yinghuai, but realized there wasn't much worth discussing, and he too never sent another message. Thus, their last conversation remained at Lu Yinghuai's "Happy New Year."

Since the beginning of the holiday, Lu Yinghuai had shut himself away at home, sleeping most of the time. When he woke, he ate, and with nothing else to do, he simply returned to his room to sleep more. On New Year's Day, his parents called him back for dinner. Though he was reluctant, he had no choice but to tidy up and return to the Lu family home.

Upon entering, he saw Yuan Tao and her family seated on the sofa. Lu Yinghuai immediately understood that tonight's dinner would likely be a trap. He concealed his emotions, didn't greet anyone, and quietly took a seat in the farthest corner, headphones on, absorbed in his game.

Yuan Tao somehow found her way to his side. Glancing at his phone, she tried to start a conversation, "What are you playing?"

Whether Lu Yinghuai truly couldn't hear her due to his headphones or simply didn't want to respond, his face remained cold as he played, silent.

Yuan Tao was used to his indifference, so his sudden disregard didn't faze her. She continued chatting with him on her own. To both families, it looked as if their relationship was close.

"Our Huai will be blessed in the future, to have Tao Tao by his side," Lu's mother said with a smile.

"If anyone's blessed, it's our Tao Tao. Huai is so outstanding—I feel she's the one who's lucky," Yuan's mother replied, also smiling.

The parents exchanged compliments. Lu's father and Yuan Tao's father were upstairs, discussing matters in the study. It was only when dinner was served that the two men came downstairs. Lu Yinghuai put away his phone and, without a word to Yuan Tao, walked straight to the dining table.

He treated this dinner as nothing more than a task to be completed.

Yuan Tao sat down beside him with practiced ease, but Lu Yinghuai never once spared her a glance, his attitude icy to the extreme.

Lu's mother noticed and felt a surge of displeasure, though she kept her face gentle. "Huai, as a young man, you should look after Tao Tao."

Lu Yinghuai looked up at her expressionlessly, then lowered his head as if nothing had happened.

Lu's mother felt ignored, anger rising within her, but with guests present, she couldn't lose her temper.

The meal was relatively peaceful. At one point, Yuan Tao placed food on Lu Yinghuai's plate, speaking softly, "Huai, try this. It's delicious."

Lu Yinghuai looked at it without expression, then continued eating his own food. After that, he never touched the dish again.

After dinner, the two families chatted a bit more before Yuan Tao's family took their leave. Once they were gone, Lu's mother's face turned cold, her previous warmth vanished. She glared at Lu Yinghuai, "Have you forgotten the etiquette I taught you?"

Lu Yinghuai lifted his gaze to her, his tone equally cold. "I never promised to be with Yuan Tao in the future."

"If not Yuan Tao, then who? That desk mate of yours, Pei Huan?" Lu's mother sneered. "I've heard you've been getting close to Pei Huan lately. Don't forget, you're still a member of the Lu family. Whatever path you take, you'll have to listen to us."

Hearing Pei Huan's name, Lu Yinghuai's eyes frosted over, his voice icy. "You investigated me?"

"So what if I did? You're my son. I have the right to know," his mother's tone was equally frigid.

Lu Yinghuai felt a lump in his throat, his breathing rapid for several seconds before he finally suppressed the violent urge rising within him. He said nothing more, bypassed his mother, and left the suffocating house.

Outside, breathing in the fresh air, Lu Yinghuai finally felt a bit better.

The Lu family's house was in the suburbs; returning to the city would take some time. Lu Yinghuai wandered aimlessly, pulling out his phone and staring at the chat window with Pei Huan. Their conversation was still frozen at the New Year's message he had sent at midnight.

He tried several times to send Pei Huan a message but found himself with no excuse to reach out. He typed and deleted, deleted and typed, until finally he turned off the screen, his hand powerless by his side. He looked at the dark sky in the distance, his gaze hollow and unfocused.

A cold wind swept across his face, stinging sharply. He pulled up the hood of his jacket and slowly made his way home.

Third-year students returned to school earlier than the younger grades. Pei Yan had been attending classes for a week before Pei Huan's term began. After a whole winter break of leisure, Pei Huan's routine was still off; even in the classroom, she hadn't found her energy.

Apparently, everyone was the same. Lixuan and Wang Xun, usually talkative, were both slumped over their desks, catching up on sleep. Tang Yue was also listless.

Lu Yinghuai was already in his seat. Pei Huan sat down and remarked casually, "You came so early?"

"Yes," Lu Yinghuai replied.

He wanted to see her, so he arrived earlier.

Pei Huan wasn't aware of his intentions. After putting down her bag and tidying her desk, she found herself with nothing to do and started chatting with Lu Yinghuai again.

Ma Fei asked a few boys to fetch textbooks for the semester. When each subject's books were handed out, Pei Huan eagerly wrote her name on them. Noticing that Lu Yinghuai hadn't picked up his pen, she took his books and said, "Let me write your name for you, Lu Yinghuai."

He did not object. Pei Huan opened the covers and wrote his name, stroke by careful stroke, her expression focused. Lu Yinghuai watched her for as long as she wrote.

When she finished, Pei Huan stacked the books neatly and handed them back, her voice bright, "All done!"

Lu Yinghuai took the textbooks, flipping through each to see the names Pei Huan had written for him. Her handwriting was delicate, the strokes slightly sharp—a style uniquely hers.

Seeing him pore over them for so long, Pei Huan leaned in, pleased with herself. "Looks nice, doesn't it?"

"It does," Lu Yinghuai responded simply.

The first period was Ma Fei's literature class. Without any extra words, he began teaching straight away.

With the start of the second semester of sophomore year, it felt as though they'd stepped halfway into their third year. The learning atmosphere was more intense. Much of the content for this term had already been covered last semester—they were simply continuing where they'd left off.

After just a week of classes, on Friday of the second week, Pei Huan came into the classroom. Even after the morning exercises, Lu Yinghuai hadn't shown up for class, which was unusual—he had attended every day before. She didn't ask about it.

It was the class president who told Pei Huan that Lu Yinghuai was feeling unwell and had taken the day off. Pei Huan nodded, understanding.

It was February, and the weather remained bitterly cold. Sitting by the window, Pei Huan shivered each time wind gusted through.

After school, as she packed her bag to leave, the class president blocked her path. Pei Huan asked, "What's up?"

"Well," the class president explained, "this is the money our class collected to buy something for Lu Yinghuai. Since you're his desk mate, we'd like you to visit him on our behalf. Here's his address." He handed her a slip of paper.

Pei Huan glanced at it and asked, "Why don't you send someone else?"

"Since you're his desk mate and close to him, you're the best choice," the president said, smiling.

Pei Huan was reluctant, but after much persuasion, she finally agreed to deliver everyone's well wishes. The president nodded in satisfaction and patted her shoulder.

When Pei Huan stood at Lu Yinghuai's door with the fruit basket she'd bought, she suddenly realized she had come unannounced and hadn't informed him. If she wasn't allowed in, she'd freeze to death in the snow—not exactly worth it.

Just as she pushed open the iron gate to the yard, she saw Yuan Tao approaching from the entrance. Both paused upon seeing each other. Yuan Tao stepped forward, feigning kindness, "Huai isn't feeling well right now and doesn't want visitors. If you're looking for him, it's better to come another time."

Yuan Tao's words carried the air of a hostess. Pei Huan simply smiled, "I'm here with the concern of the whole class, not just on my own."

Yuan Tao looked at her, said nothing, and stepped aside to let Pei Huan pass.

Pei Huan didn't linger, bypassed Yuan Tao, and went up to the door, pressing the bell. Lu Yinghuai assumed Yuan Tao had returned. Already feeling ill and irritated from being disturbed repeatedly, his expression was icy as he opened the door. But when he saw who was outside, he froze for a moment.

Pei Huan was startled by his cold demeanor and stammered, "Did I come at a bad time?"

Lu Yinghuai was a little flustered. "No."

"This is from the class," Pei Huan held out the fruit basket. "It's everyone's way of wishing you well. Please accept it."

Lu Yinghuai stared at the basket for a few seconds, then stepped aside to let her in. Pei Huan was puzzled.

"Come in. It's cold outside," Lu Yinghuai said, a little awkward.

Pei Huan looked at him for a while before stepping inside.

Yuan Tao remained outside, watching as Pei Huan entered and the door closed behind her. Her eyes burned with jealousy and resentment.

She had stood outside for ages, and Lu Yinghuai never let her in. Yet the instant Pei Huan arrived, he ushered her inside. It wasn't fair.

Yuan Tao seethed.

Inside, the living room was pitch dark. Pei Huan set the fruit basket on the table. When she had stood outside, the light allowed her to see the unnatural flush on Lu Yinghuai's face. She said, "Come over here."

Lu Yinghuai went to her. Pei Huan stood on tiptoe and pressed the back of her hand to his forehead, feeling his temperature.

The moment her cool hand touched him, Lu Yinghuai stiffened.

But Pei Huan couldn't quite gauge his temperature. She said, "Bend down."

Lu Yinghuai could barely think, but he complied. What Pei Huan did next made his heart tremble.

She cupped his face in her hands, pressing her forehead to his. They were so close, each could hear the other's breathing. Pei Huan's warm breath fell across Lu Yinghuai's face, and he forgot to move entirely.

Pei Huan, though, was intent on sensing his temperature. After a moment, she pulled away, her tone serious, "You're running a fever, Lu Yinghuai."

"Mm," he murmured, distracted.

Only then did Pei Huan realize how intimate their actions had been. She jumped back as if electrocuted, hands retracting sharply, her face overtaken by embarrassment.

Fortunately, the dim room concealed the suspicious flush on her cheeks from Lu Yinghuai.